Keratin Hair Straightening systems like Brazilian Blowout or Coppola Keratin System have been the latest to hit the market and this article will inform you about the details of this system, and whether you should opt for it.
What Is Keratin Hair Treatment?
Keratin is a protein that is naturally found in the hair that can fill the pores of your hair. Absence of Keratin can lead to tangled, curly hair. Keratin Treatments use a chemical called Formaldehyde, which locks in Keratin into the hair, revealing straight, glossy hair.
Keratin hair treatments are not used for treating frizzy hair. They cannot tame frizz and can only be for smoothening hair structure.
Is Keratin Treatment Safe For Hair?
As with any chemical-based treatment, Keratin treatments also come with an ugly side of the coin. They contain very high amounts of chemicals that may make your hair look pretty for a while but can severely damage them from the root. Most people have experienced brittle hair, hair thinning and even hair loss after the treatments.
Does Keratin Treatment Make Hair Straight?
Keratin treatments help in relaxing curly hair and make them straight. They break the bonds of your hair permanently, leading to straight hair. The effects last for a couple of months or till new hair grows.
Keratin Hair Straightening Treatment:
The Tenure of The Treatment:
Consumers are told often that this system of hair straightening is bound to last for 12 weeks or longer with smooth straight hair. But the truth is that this time period depends on the person who is getting it done and her state of the hair. The texture of the hair, along with its porosity and density plays a major role in determining the duration of the treatment on the hair. The quality of the hair, and how often they shampoo is also to be taken into account.
What it Contains:
Some of these hair treatments are formaldehyde-free, but they contain a derivative of it known as Vanillin or Aldehyde, etc. The concentration of these chemicals in the treatments determine if the system is harmful for your hair or not. Mostly all major treatments contain about 1.8% to 2% formaldehyde, even in perfumes and tinned shelf food and preserves. Most of the popular treatments in the market are keratin-based.
See More: Tips For Straightening Curly Hair
How it Works:
Keratin is a special protein that is found in the hair. It helps to fill up the gaps that are found in the hair cuticles that may be dry, cracked or damaged due to daily life. Keratin hair straightening cream is mixed with various quantities of formaldehyde, it is then applied to the hair and locked in with the heat from a flat iron. The fumes released during this treatment are toxic and have to be released. The formaldehyde used helps to bind the keratin particles and straightens the outer look of your hair, giving it a smooth and glossy look.
These keratin treatments generally last for two months. These treatments take 90 minutes or longer for completion, depending on the length of the hair. The price of the treatment varies accordingly.
See More: Permanent Hair Straightening For Men
Care of The Hair:
Highlights or hair dyes are permissible on hair that has had keratin based treatments to straighten it. Some experts recommend that the hair colouring should be done after the keratin treatment as this locks in the colour very well.
New Temporary Treatment
The shampoo to shampoo treatments that stay for only a short while and cost less are also effective. Their cost depends on the tenure of the smoothened hair and the quality of the hair.
Top 5 Keratin Hair Straightening Products
1. Keratin Research Brazilian Keratin Hair Treatment
This treatment is designed to make your hair straight and beautiful. It claims to strengthen hair and leave it voluminous. It also improves the elasticity of your hair. However, like any keratin treatment is leaves powerful and dangerous fumes, so care needs to be taken while applying.
2. Gold Label Professional Keratin Treatment
If you have curly, wiry and coarse hair, this treatment is the best for you. It is a huge relief for people who wish to keep their hair straight and manageable, without having to spend a lot of time on styling. It claims to eliminate frizz and keep curls out of your way. This product however contains extremely high levels of Formaldehyde and can damage your hair.
3. Lanza Keratin Healing Oil Treatment
This oil is the most simplest, yet effective Keratin Oil treatments. You don’t need many people working on your hair. All you need is to apply the oil on damp hair and watch the magic. However, this oil can be quite thick and make your hair greasy. Also, it doesn’t work very well for thick, curly hair.
4. Moroccan Keratin Most Effective Brazilian Keratin
This Keratin treatment leaves a permanent straightening effect on your hair, that can last for 3 to 6 months, depending on the type of hair and maintenance. The procedure for this treatment is quite cumbersome, but the results are worth it.
5. Keratin Treatment Set – Organic – Formaldehyde Free
This treatment is relatively safe for your hair, considering it is Formaldehyde free. It doesn’t have strong smell and can deliver good results. However, the effects may not last for more than a week and you might have to rush to the salon again.
6. Keune Keratin Hair Straightening Cream
This is one of the best and effective Keratin straightening cream for hair. If you have extremely curly, untamed hair and wish to get a polished look, this is your go-to cream. It is easy to apply and use for a smooth hair. It claims to create a lasting effect for about 5 months. The best part of this cream is, it is 100% Formaldehyde free!
Side Effects of Keratin Treatment
- Pregnant or breastfeeding women are recommended to not get this treatment done or come in contact with it as it is toxic for the child.
- Those who has asthma have been known to have severe reactions to this treatment.
- Some of the new formulas have been known to turn the formaldehyde into Vanillin or aldehyde when heated with the iron and this is very toxic.
- The FDA warned the hair companies in 2011 that the formaldehyde content was “dangerously high”, even going as high as 10%.
- The FDA has thereby asked the companies to reduce this amount, or they will pull all the products from the market.
These keratin treatments lessen the time you spend blow-drying your hair, by 40% to 60% and also get rid of all that frizz. The climate tends to reign your hair less after this treatment, and your hair is unaffected by rain or humidity. It is also to be noted that this treatment does not DE- frizz hair, it only smoothens it to avoid the hassle, and makes it look smooth. Thermal straighteners are a safer option to this keratin-based treatment.
